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9 Punjabis deported from Australia land in Delhi; “most having criminal record,” says CM Mann

At least 9 people hailing from Punjab, who were deported by Australia, landed at the Delhi international airport on Thursday.

2 min readUpdated: Apr 30, 2026 11:19 PM IST

Australia is deporting 15 Indians, among whom a majority are from Punjab, and the rest from Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. (Representational image)

At least 9 people hailing from Punjab, who were deported by Australia, landed at the Delhi international airport on Thursday.

A team of Punjab Police and administrative officials had reached the national capital to receive them.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had said on Wednesday that Australia was deporting 15 Indians, among whom a majority were from Punjab, and the rest from Telangana and Uttarakhand.

Mann had also revealed in a press conference in Chandigarh on Wednesday that most of these deportees had criminal cases registered against them in Australia. “But they are our own children, and we will receive them at the airport while ensuring support for their rehabilitation and future livelihood,” he had said.

S Karuna Raju, principal resident commissioner at Punjab Bhawan in Delhi, said to The Indian Express: “We have been handed over 9 deportees who are natives of Punjab. Initially, we had received a list of 11 from Punjab but 2 did not arrive probably due to incomplete documentation. We provided them food and further handed them over to Punjab Police. They have left for Punjab from Delhi.”

According to the district-wise list of the deportees accessed by The Indian Express, of the 9 deportees from Punjab who have arrived, nine they are from Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Khanna, Moga, Nawanshahr, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ropar. One among the 11 is a woman.

A Punjab Police official said that deportees were first being taken to Patiala from where they will further leave for their hometowns.

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Highlighting the issue of fraudulent travel agents, Mann had said, “Many innocent people fall into the trap of dubious travel agents who promise them the moon and send them abroad. These people leave with high hopes but are eventually deported. Our government is making arrangements for employment so that no one is forced to go abroad in search of jobs.”

Divya Goyal

Divya Goyal is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Ludhiana (Punjab). She is widely recognized for her human-interest storytelling and in-depth investigative reporting on social and political issues in the region. Professional Profile Experience: With over 13 years in journalism, she joined The Indian Express in 2012. She previously worked with Hindustan Times. Education: A gold medalist in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Core Beats: She covers a diverse range of subjects, including gender issues, education, the Sikh diaspora, heritage, and the legacy of the Partition. She has also reported on minority communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Awards and Recognition Divya has earned significant acclaim for her sensitivity toward gender and social disparities: Laadli Media Award (2020): For her investigative report "Punjab: The Invisible Drug Addicts," which exposed the gender disparity in treating women addicts. Laadli Media Award (2023): For a ground report on the struggles of two girls who had to ride a boat to reach their school in a border village of Punjab. Signature Style Divya is known for "humanizing the news." Rather than just reporting on policy, she often focuses on the individuals affected by it—such as students dealing with exam stress, farmers struggling with diversification, or families impacted by crime. Her work often bridges the gap between West (Pakistan) and East (India) Punjab, exploring shared heritage and common struggles. X (Twitter): @DivyaGoyal_ ... Read More

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